CDSGThe  Newsletter  The Coast Defense Study Group, Inc. — Fall 2020 Chairman’s Message CDSG Meeting and Tour Calendar Richard Wong Please advise Terry McGovern of any additions or changes at [email protected] I'm honored to have been selected to serve as the Chairman of the CDSG through a unanimous vote of the CDSG's Board of 2021 CDSG Conference Directors (thank you, Robert Grimm and Steve Waldron). Special April 21 - 25, 2021 appreciation goes to our outgoing chairman, Danny Malone, who Charleston/Savannah has left this organization in a very strong position. Under his lead- Gary Alexander, [email protected] ership, annual dues were kept at $45, membership numbers were maintained, and initiatives were undertaken to provide an e-version 2021 CDSG Special Tour subscription option to our international members. August 21 - 29, August 25 - September 3, 2021 This year has been globally described as "unprecedented." The Sweden annual meeting in New Orleans was twice postponed due to the Terry McGovern, [email protected] persistence of the global pandemic that disrupted the travel plans of our domestic and international members. (A special thanks to 2022 CDSG Conference our conference chairman, Quentin Schillare, for his yeoman's work March 30 - April 3, 2022 in scheduling, rescheduling, and then cancelling all the hotel and New Orleans boat reservations). Speaking of New Orleans, an unprecedented Quentin Schillare, [email protected] number of tropical storms raced across the Atlantic into the Gulf of Mexico this year, exhausting the National Hurricane Center's Other Meetings and Tours list of alphabetical first names and extending into the Greek alpha- bet. Four of those storms -- Cristobal, Laura, Marco, and Delta April, 2021 -- made landfall in Louisiana, with yet-undetermined impacts on Kehl/Strasburg the coastal fortifications that the CDSG had planned to visit this Interfest Annual Meeting year Tentatively, the New Orleans conference is going to be held Oliver Zauzig, [email protected] March 30-April 3, 2022, with the Charleston/Savannah taking place a year before that. May 27 -28, 2021 Coronavirus continues to disrupt our daily lives. Thousands of Luxemburg polling places were shuttered, forcing millions of voters to mail in International Fortress Council Annual Meeting ballots that weren't counted until after Election Day, forestalling Kees Neisingh, [email protected] the announcement of a winner. Businesses have been closed since March, with some fortunate enough to telework. One can walk May 29-30, 2021 into bank wearing a mask and request money without triggering a Assn Saint-Maurice d' Etudes Militaries Tour silent alarm. The Tokyo Summer Olympics were postponed for a Ticino & Lake Como year, and Major League Baseball held a World Series that nobody Pascal Bruchez, [email protected] attended. Kids stopped going to school and instead are getting an online education via something other than YouTube and TikTok. May 29 -30, 2021 Meanwhile, life (and sadly, death) goes on. The US Department Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Festungforshung Study Tour of Agriculture continues its plans to move the Animal Disease Paris & Lille, Frannce Center from Plum Island to someplace closer to Quentin Schillare. Andres Kupka, [email protected] The overgrowth at Fort Adams continues to be trimmed. And in Washington State, we lost one of our stalwarts and former CDSG June 2021 Board Member, Al Chiswell. I first encountered Al when a business ECCOFORT Study Tour trip sent me to Seattle. I stayed an extra day and rented a car to Armenia drive out to Port Townsend. When I arrived at the Coast Artillery Hans-Rudolf Neumann, [email protected] Museum and Al found out I was a relatively new CDSG member who flew out from Washington, DC, to see "his" fort, he threw June 7 - 11, 2021 me in the front seat of his car and took me on a grand VIP tour of Rochefort, France Fort Worden, treating me as if were the Chairman of the CDSG. Association Vauban Annual Congress Now, 20 years later, I am, thanks to Al and his enthusiasm for the Charles Rofort, [email protected] organization and looking after its members. The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 2

September 11- 19, 2021 September 24 - 26, 2021 ECCOFORT Study Tour Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Festungforshung Annual Meeting Kotor/Montenegro Wesel, Germany Hans-Rudolf Neumann, [email protected] Andres Kupka, [email protected]

September 16 - 20, 2021 November 2021 Assn Saint-Maurice d' Etudes Militaries Tour Charleston Wallon - Liege Concil on America's Military Past Annual Conference Pascal Bruchez, [email protected] Brigwt Hart, [email protected]

September 23 -27, 2021 April 10 - 23, 2022 Piemont - Val D’Aoste ECCOFORT Study Tour Association Vauban Annual Congress Morroco Charles Rofort, [email protected] Hans-Rudolf Neumann, [email protected]

Thank you, Al, and thanks to all the members of the CDSG * * * * * who have supported the group in one way or another -- welcoming CDSG 2020 Annual Business Meeting new members, protecting historic resources, contributing to the and “Members Day” Presentations Journal, providing trip reports and site updates for the Newslet- Mark Berhow ter, serving as Site and Regional Representatives, or simply by maintaining your memberships. We all share a love and passion The CDSG 2020 Annual Business Meeting, November 7, 2020, for what we do, and as your incoming chairman, I would like via Zoom along with a “Members Day” of presentations on coast facilitate those efforts. defense subjects. Regards, Richard Presentations began at 11:30 AM (Eastern time) with 5 pre- * * * * * sentations by both previous schedule conference speakers and Preservation Committee Report “members day” speakers. Presentations were given by: John Gordon Bliss Weaver – “Third System Forts of New Orleans”; Charles Bogart – “Chiefs of CAC”; Ted Pamkayotuff – “Fort Fremont”; Steven I have very little new to report on for this issue, so this column Kobylk – “Puget Sound Update”; and Ian Gray – “Defense of New will be very short. The continuing and resurgent pandemic has Orleans during the War of 1812”. These presentations were well still put a significant damper on activity. The future of one site of received with over 40 online attendees. A number of participants great interest to the group, Fort Terry on Plum Island, NY, is still indicated they would like having quarterly “member day” events uncertain; any proposed legislative action to benefit it is extremely via Zoom so other members could provide presentations. The unlikely to occur until at least next year. Fort Wool in Hampton Fortress Study Group is offering a similar lecture program of one Roads has been turned into a substitute bird sanctuary for at least presentation per week. The CDSG leadership would like to know the next few years as construction on the new highway tunnel of any member interested in giving a presentation. there has begun. From a few distance pictures I have seen, the The CDSG Annual Business Meeting was held virtually at 7:30 sand put down there is not covering any structures and nothing PM EST on November 7, 2020. There were approximately 34 at- appears to have been directly damaged but I have not seen any tendees. The CDSG Business Meeting consisted of the Chairman’s detailed views of the site. What it will look like after this project report and then reports of each of the standing committees’ activi- is finished and whether the public will ever be allowed back there ties over the past year. The business meeting is the opportunity for is an open question. the membership to interact directly with the board of directors One bright spot is that even with the restrictions, it is still and the committee members to ask questions or get information. possible to do outside work to help maintain sites as people can As a member, please consider attending in the future. maintain appropriate distances and generally there are less restric- The 2020-2021 Board of Directors are Richard Wong, Robert tions on such activity. The regular volunteer crew at Fort Adams, Grimm, and Steve Waldron. Opening remarks were given by Newport RI, has been working most Saturdays, weather permit- Chairman of the Board Richard Wong, who then introduced ting, to both keep the Third System structures clear and looking the reports from the various committees. Updates on the com- good, and to clean up some of the Endicott period batteries. If mittees’ annual activities will be provided in upcoming issues of something is going on in your area, please email me so that I can the Newsletter. mention it in the next newsletter. Membership Chairman Quentin Schillare reported that we cur- If you have a preservation issue or question, or for further rently have 403 members, with 373 US members and 28 foreign information on any of the items I’ve mentioned so far this year, members, of which 12 are electronic subscribers. contact Preservation Committee Chair Gordon Bliss, at preserva- Preservation and Interpretation Chairman Gordon Bliss noted tion@cdsg. org. the ongoing saga of Fort Wool, the great progress in reclaiming Fort Adams outworks, and the outstanding accomplishments of The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 3 the volunteer crews at Fort Casey and Fort Ebey. Gordon can CDSG Board of Directors has already agreed to fund (and we only respond to developing events if he is notified by observant have funds on hand to cover) are: members. Site Representative and Outreach chairman Norman Restoration Supplies for Battery Guenther at Fort Canby – up Scarpulla noted that he has regional representatives in place to to $2,500 – Waiting on USCG approval to continue the clean-up cover the US, but the CDSG is still looking for site representa- of the mortar battery by Aaron Buda, the CDSG Representa- tives to regularly make contact with any and all coast artillery tive for Columbia River. We hope that more work is done on sites. It would be greatly appreciated if site visit reports, long or this special mortar battery so we need to reserve these funds for short, could be provided on a regular basis. those efforts. Publications Committee member Mark Berhow noted while USS Iowa Veterans Association 16-inch/50 Barrel Project – the CDSG has a nice backlog of articles for the CD Journal, new The Fund challenged our members up to $5,000. The US Navy authors are still needed. has accepted the display of the barrel at JEB Fort Story at Cape Treasurer Terry McGovern reported that CDSG finances are Henry, but the USS Iowa Veterans Association needs to raise the in great shape and we are sustainable in keeping the annual dues funds needed for the movement and display ($125,000). We need the same as last year ($45 per domestic member). The CDSG to reserve the $10,000 as our members have meet the trustee’s Fund Trustees reported that donations are running behind last challenge and have given $5,000 towards this project. year's total (about $6k), but it was hoped that the funds year-end TheCDSG Fund has been approached for possible grants for appeal will allow us to match last year. the following projects, but we need to raise more funds before The CDSG Fund has provided funding for Battery Gadsden we can consider these requests, as well as have a formal written lighting and for the solar powered lighting at the Eternal Flame request to the CDSG Fund Trustees so they can make a recom- at the Pacific War Memorial on Corregidor. The CDSG fund is mendation about these requests to the CDSG Board. seeking project proposals. Fort Michie, Great Gull Island, NY – Chris Zeeman – Stabili- The CDSG Press is hoping to add a new coast artillery guide- zations of WWII fire control tower due to rusting steel supports book title next year. – cost estimated at $1,800 through the use of 12 floor jacks – We Projects chairman Mark Berhow notes that the website is run- are working with Matthew Male through the AMNH to fund the ning smoothly but is seeking someone to take over management purchase and installation of these floor jacks, but we have only of the website and our social media. He is willing to work with a small window of time for gaining water access to Great Gull a volunteer over the next year. As the Zoom meeting seemed Island. It is not easy in months outside the tern nesting season to be pretty successful, it was suggested that the CDSG should (April to September). procure its own Zoom account for future online events. This will Fort Wool, Rip Raps, Hampton, VA – Mike Cobb – Stabiliza- be discussed at the next board meeting. tion of 3rd System Casemates and WWII battery commander’s The Nominations Committee is seeking members to volunteer tower – cost estimated at $2,500 for 20 floor jacks – This project is to run for a term on the Board of Directors starting in October on hold as the City of Hampton has not renewed its lease for this 2021. Chairman Richard Wong urged members to come forward island fort from the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Department to volunteer and learn more about how the organization runs. of Conservation and Recreation now controls the island and they As the Zoom meeting seemed to be pretty successful, it was have converted it to a seasonal nesting habitat for seabirds. They brought up that the CDSG should procure its own Zoom account have determined the dock and the historic structures are unsafe for future online events. This will be brought up and discussed and banned the public from visiting. The remaining rd3 System at the next board meeting (1/25/21). Richard then thanked casemates continue to settle and the masonry is cracking with Charlie Bogart for making the arrangements for this Zoom concerns about collapse. Mike is trying use wooden shoring to meeting and for running the show. The meeting was adjourned support the casemates. The WWII battery commanders tower at 9:30 Eastern Time. (one of the only two remaining in the world) is rusting, espe- * * * * * cially on the “cab” portion where only two steel supports carry 2020 Year-end Donation Appeal for the the weight of the cement roof. Mike has been using car jacks to try to support the roof, but the whole roof is leaning due to the CDSG Fund weight. It is a real possibility that the tower may topple if these The CDSG Fund Trustees (Terry McGovern, roof supports give way. Mike needs to get organized and provide Quentin Schillare, and Mark Berhow) us with a written request. Fort Mills, Corregidor Island, Philippines – Fort Monroe Au- As you know, the CDSG Fund supports the efforts of the thority (FMA) and Corregidor Foundation (CFI) – Movement Coast Defense Study Group by raising funds for preservation and display of a 12-inch M1895 barrel from “Bottomside” on and interpretation of American seacoast defenses. The CDSG Corregidor to Battery Parrott at Fort Monroe, VA – cost estimate Fund is seeking year-end 2020 donations from our members not known at this time – The CFI has agreed to give this 12-inch to fund projects that support our organization’s goals. We have M1895 barrel to FMA for display on a cradle at Battery Parrott agreed to fund several projects in keeping with our goals and we (same type of barrel that was used on a disappearing carriage). have a list of potential projects which we may fund in the coming Challenges will be gaining approval from other Philippine gov- year, but only if we receive enough donations from our members ernment agencies, especially the Ministry of National Defense, to allow the CDSG Fund to provide these grants. Projects the to export this barrel and raising the funds to move the barrel (38 The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 4 feet long and weighs 60 tons) from Corregidor to Manila to ship cars as the size of the tour group would be limited to around via break-bulk to Newport News, VA. Part of Battery Parrott 15 members. Total in-country costs are estimated to be $2,500 would become a display on the functioning of the battery and (subject to number of attendees). The planning dates are now a display on the military history of Corregidor. This project will late August 2021, due to the virus developments. require political, logistical, and fundraising expertise. The first day we will visit Landsort Fortress, both the 15.2 mm The CDSG Fund can only fund these possible projects by turrets and more modern 12 cm turrets. The next day we will receiving your donations, so without your donations we cannot visit Vaxholm Fortress, which has a whole complex of defenses approve these projects. Please consider donating when paying on several islands. We will visit the Fortress Museum and Oscar- your membership dues for 2021. Please remember that your Fredriksborg Fort as well as the Vaxholm Line of defenses. On donations are tax-deductible for federal tax purposes as the CDSG the third day we drive and boat taxi to remarkable Siaro Fortress, is a 501(c)(3) organization and 100% of your gift will go to the an underground island fort with two 15.2 cm guns, before we fly projects requesting grants. Your contributions are acknowledged and boat taxi to Arholma to stay overnight in Battery Arholma annually. Make checks or money orders payable in US funds to: (10.5 cm coast defense work). Day Four has us traveling north the CDSG Fund. Donations can also be made by credit card or to Storholmen Island with a 15.2 cm battery and its over 1 km PayPal via the CDSG website at www. cdsg. org. Send donations underground tunnel system. Day Five the tour continues on with to: CDSG Fund c/o Quentin Schillare 24624 W. 96th Street, the drive north to the Hemso Fortress (twin 15.2 cm turrets with Lenexa, KS 66227-7285, USA or use your credit card on the fire-control complex) and an overnight stay in a 7.5 cm battery www. cdsg. org website. Consider combining your membership on Havstoudd. On Day Six we fly to northern Sweden to the dues with a CDSG Fund donation this year. Boden Fortress, with very impressive series of forts carved from Attention – We have added the CDSG Fund to Amazon the bedrock (Rödberget Fort and Fortress Museum) on Day Smiles program where Amazon will donate 0.05 percent of Seven. We will also go to Vuollerim with its ex-navy 15.2 cm your purchases to the CDSG Fund if you make the CDSG twin turrets. Day Eight its off to Lappland and the Kalix Line and Fund (https://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1698506) your de- Kamlunge Fort (15.2 cm guns before going to the Siknas Fortress fault charity in their system. Please do so today. (twin 15.2 cm turrets). On Day Nine we fly to Stockholm for flights back to the USA. * * * * * Please let Terry McGovern at 1700 Oak Lane, McLean, VA Update on 2021 CDSG Special Tour to 22101 or tcmcgovern@att. net know of your interest in attend- Sweden’s Defenses ing one, two, or all three tours. If we get enough interest from Proposed Dates – August 25th to September 3rd CDSG members, we will start collecting a deposit for the tour. Seeking your Interest – Please let us Know Please let me know your questions. Terry McGovern

The CDSG and FSG have been working on organizing special tours to Sweden’s defenses in 2021 (subject to developments with the COVID-19 pandemic) but we need to learn if you are interested in attending one, or two, or all three of the proposed Sweden tours. Wait, you might say, how can there be three for- tification tours to Sweden in the same year!! This is due to each group’s different focus, mode of transport/lodging, and duration of tour. By having three options we hope to better serve each member’s needs. These tours are being organized by the leading tour organizer to Sweden’s impressive defenses, Lars Hasson. He has designed Fortress Hemsö twin 15.2 cm m/03 turret battery a 9-day tour to the “best” of Sweden’s modern defenses for the CDSG which would take us across the breath of Sweden. He is also organizing an 8-day tour for the FSG that would overlap with the CDSG tour so our two groups would travel together for 4 days. You could attend just the FSG tour or just the CDSG tour or both tours for a total of 13 days. Lars may also organize a 4-day “add-on” tour for those who really want to see all the major Swedish defenses. If you joined all three tours you would have 17-days of both Swedish and Danish fortifications and artillery. You would truly become an expert on Swedish defenses. The CDSG’s 9-day tour is planned to start and end at Stock- holm’s International Airport. You would need to book and pay for your own flights. The round-trip fare from Washington, DC, recently was $1,033 via Iceland. We would use shared rental Two 15.2 cm guns at Siaro Fortress The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 5 * * * * * 10-foot by 10-foot openings in the 2nd tier all around the fort, Current Conditions at Fort Jefferson, where the embrasures would have been, giving us another view Florida, September 2020 of the construction method for these brick forts. The scarp wall Chuck Ruby was built first with openings for the embrasures. The brickwork was left in an alternating pattern so the embrasures could be tied The following article is based on my trip to Fort Jefferson and into the scarp when built later. information provided by my guide. The gentleman providing the guided tour was an employee of the ferry company and not a Na- tional Park Ranger. His knowledge seemed to be based on what was relayed to him by others. Fort Jefferson is a 3-story brick fort, 70 miles west of Key West, FL, in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the largest of the 3rd-System forts, it encompasses nearly 16 acres. The United States needed to protect the vital shipping route from the East Coast to New Orleans, and Fort Jefferson was built on Garden Key for this purpose. Even though the fort was not built to defend a major city or an important river or harbor along the coast, as most 3rd- System forts were, it was constructed during the same period. During the forts history it was used as many things, from a trade route defense fort to a quarantine island to a prison. It has been home to as many as 1500 men women and children at one time. The 45-foot-high walls of the fort blocked much of the coastal breeze, so the parade, where most of the people lived in tents, was uncomfortably hot and humid. Whenever possible the residents inhabited the 2nd tier casemates. Walls were built between some of the casemates and in some cases the embrasures formed rectangular openings for windows. Also, in some of the casemates in the bastions, stoves with chimneys were built utilizing excess bricks and accessing the chimneys in the top of the casemates designed to funnel out the hot gasses and smoke Because of the forts immense size and location, construction from firing the cannon. was exceedingly difficult and continued off and on for over 50 years, but was never completed. The flooring of the second tier was never finished. It was determined that the weight of the finished fort, along with the weight of the guns, would be too great for the shifting sand that the fort was built on.

When walking the second tier, the brick tops of the first-tier casemates are visible along with the cement and coral used as fill. Only one small section of the slate flooring was installed and it gives us a small view of how of how 3rd-system forts were built. The rest of the slate flooring was never installed. Also, the scarp walls were built but the embrasures were not. There are large The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 6 When I last visited the fort 35 years ago, the first-tier embra- * * * * * sures were all in extremely poor condition. The iron used to sup- Al Chiswell, 1943 - 2020 port the brickwork had rusted behind the bricks, expanded, and Bolling Smith burst the brickwork around the embrasures. All the embrasures have now been repaired. Some embrasures also have Totten Shut- The Board of Directors sadly announces the death of Al ters but they do not appear to be original and they are on poor Chiswell, a former board member. Alfred Gregson Chiswell, condition. The sally port area of the fort has also been restored. Jr., was born March 10, 1943, in North Carolina, and died On the parapet are several restored, well maintained 15-inch September 25, 2020, in Port Townsend, WA, after a lengthy smoothbore Rodman cannon and 10-inch rifled Parrott guns. illness. He is survived by his wife, Maureen Lund Chiswell, of The guns were restored in 2007 after laying on the ground for Port Townsend; his daughter, Charlotte Amalie Chiswell Dries, many years, but the corrosion has been removed and they are now and son-in-law Andrew Dries, of Dumfries, VA, and his son, coated with a protective black finish. All the other ordnance at Thomas J. Chiswell of Vancouver, WA. the fort was donated or scrapped. The remaining guns were not Al was retired and has lived in Port Townsend for 21 years. He removed because of their immense weight. There are 38 surviving has been active in community work as director and board mem- guns of the two designs. One Rodman is mounted on a replica ber of the Puget Sound Coast Artillery Museum at Fort Worden mount appropriate for the cannon. The others are mounted on State Park and was involved in many events at the park, where steel cradles. he served as tour guide. He was awarded a Volunteer of the Year Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 by Washing- ton State Parks. He had been a board member of the Council on America’s Military Past (CAMP) and of the Coast Defense Study Group. He was also associated with the Fortress Study Group. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engi- neering from North Carolina State University and served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, achieving the rank of captain. For his military service he received two Bronze Stars and a U.S. Army Commendation Medal. He traveled extensively in his career as a telecommunications engineer, including sites in Europe, South America, and Saudi Arabia. In honor of his memory, donations may be made in his name to the Coast Defense Study Group, c/o Quentin Schillare, 24624 The construction of Garden Key Lighthouse in the fort’s interior W. 96th St., Lenexa, Kansas, 66227-7285, or to CDSG.org. was completed in 1826. There were many challenges with the lighthouse over the next 30 years and it was eventually replaced * * * * * by the Loggerhead Lighthouse, approximately 3 miles further Fort Words at Fort Worden west. The Garden Key Lighthouse is currently being refurbished. Press release Much of the parade is covered in knee-high grass with only trails mowed across. There are only a few remaining buildings. The Fort Words is a public art installation created by artist Aaron Engineers’ quarters are still standing and are used as housing for Asis to celebrate the inspired conditions and historic signifi- the National Park Staff living on the island. The hot shot furnace cance at Fort Worden State Park. These temporary installa- has been restored and is in excellent condition. Also located on tions are drawn from local oral histories, collections of historic the parade are a large magazine and some of the walls of one of texts, and public testimonials to give voice to these battery the fort’s cisterns. There are foundations of the enlisted men’s sites and share stories of the fort’s dynamic history with park barracks, officers’ quarters, and a few outbuildings. visitors — through October. Access to the fort by ferry from Key West costs $180 per person “…each installation shares a different story related to these round trip. There are National Park Rangers on the island but the old bunkers for people to discover, contemplate, and photo- tours are given by employees of the ferry company, who do not graph…like a trail of breadcrumbs, shown in a stencil style seem nearly as knowledgeable about the fort as most National text, which hope to inspire explorations, inspire curiosity, Park Rangers I spoke with on my previous visits to other forts. and increase our collective appreciation for this extraordinary The interior and exterior of the fort appear to have been historic treasure!!...” stabilized and the overall appearance of the fort is excellent. Ap- Fort Words was developed in collaboration with Centrum, proximately ⅔ of the fort is open to explore, including much of partnering support from Jefferson County Historical Society, each tier and most of the parade. There is a small bookshop and content support from the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, project museum next to the sally port. If you are planning a trip to Fort support from the Port Townsend Arts Commission, and per- Jefferson, allow about 9 hours - a 2½-hour boat ride out, 4 hours mitting support from Washington State Parks. at the fort, and a 2½-hour return trip. Video: https://youtu. be/wdxL_-oxIKA Website: https://www. fortwords. com/ The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 7 * * * * * Fort Canby (Cape Disappointment State Park): The Coast Coast Defense Military Reservations of Guard has closed the trail to Cape Disappointment light. The San Mateo County Now Available! reason was too many people trekking to Dead Man’s Cove on Press Release the trail, which is marked as being off limits. USCG had enough of it and closed the whole trail. I’m hoping when a new com- What once served as the eyes and ears of the Coast Artillery manding officer arrives, and maybe after the Covid scare settles Corps during World War II and beyond until 1948, the small down, it may open again. concrete base-end stations that served as observation/spotting For a variety of reasons nothing has been done to follow up on stations that were constructed along the coast of San Mateo the Battery Guenther restoration projects since the work done County, are slowly being fading into historical oblivion. Many around the CDSG Conference in 2018. We are looking into misconceptions are abound about the purpose and scope of following up at some point in the future. these unique structures built for the Harbor Defenses of San Fort Stevens: The Oregon State Historic Preservation Office Francisco. Finally, a book has come out looking at these sites in has deemed the Mishler BC/primary and M” station on the full historical detail. parados as unsafe, as of June, and so have sadly closed that area Author Matthew W. Kent puts the misconceptions to rest in off for now.... things are starting to creep closed In the HD of his new book Coast Defense Military Reservations of San Mateo the Columbia. County (258pp. hardbound and in full color, $100.00), a first of The Fort Stevens museum has been closed since March, though its kind book exploring the smaller lesser known coast defense on busy days there is an employee on the museum porch selling military reservations of San Mateo County. Coast Defense Mili- gift shop wares. In February an interpretive team was hired to tary Reservations of San Mateo County, is a concise full color revamp the Stevens museum. Covid stunted the work on that edition to the smaller lesser known coast defense military reserva- project, but it is slated to kick off in November possibly... we tions of San Mateo County, located within the Harbor Defenses will see what happens with that. of San Francisco. This book covers all fire control observation/ The Fort Stevens guardhouse just got new front windows and spotting base-end stations, power houses, gun batteries, radar doors, it is in a process of being restored, so that is good news. stations, and automatic weapon positions south of Fort Funston. The Tourist No. 2 Ferry in Astoria (former WWII Columbia Coast Defense Military Reservations of San Mateo County, River mine planter) has recently been listed for sale, and the also contains complete historical information including, blue- group working to fund restoration for it has more or less folded. prints, period maps, up-to-date site maps made from satellite The ferry’s future is looking uncertain now... hoping for the best. photographs, historic black and white period photographs, and * * * * * full color photographs of every site. This book was specifically 4.72-inch Armstrong Gun and Carriage designed for fortification enthusiasts to use in the field when Found visiting these historic sites. Thomas Batha ISBN 978-1-7923-5065-8, 258 pages, Hardcover, Dust Jacket, Library grade binding, Printed in full color. $100.00 Another surviving coast artillery gun has been found! Glen To place orders for the book, please visit the following web Williford reports a 4.72-inch 40-caliber Armstrong gun is still at address: the American Legion Post in Dravosburg, Pennsylvania. URL: https://www. blurb. com/b/10329779-coast-defense- military-reservations-of-san-mateo. * * * * * Columbia River Forts Update Aaron Buda, Site Rep

Observations from the forts:

Fort Columbia: Just within this year, the roofs in the M’/2, F’5, base end stations and the dorm building have really taken a hit. The iron supports in the roof for F’5 have given way and you can’t even walk into the station anymore. In June I discov- ered a tree fell on the back side of the dorm. The concrete wall held, but the whole roof of the enlisted part collapsed in... time is starting to take its toll. And as a note, Greg Hagge told me that the roof, ceiling, It was originally set up in a temporary emplacement in 1899 and floor in the M’/2 -later M1/4 station were rebuilt by Parks at Fort Delaware during the Spanish panic. By July 1, 1917, it in the 1970s or 80s. Thus, the old stairway in the floor to the was permanently emplaced with a second gun in Battery Dodd. plotting room down below is gone, because they covered it up Just three months later it was removed from Dodd and sent to with the new floor. This new floor and new ceiling are now very the Army Transportation Service (ATS) for possible shipboard deteriorated. The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 8 use. It is unknown if it was actually mounted on a ship but on Fort Monroe, named for President James Monroe, had its first May 21, 1919, it was returned to Fort Delaware. On March 8, stone foundations laid in 1819. The museum draws its name from 1921, it was donated to Dravosburg, Pennsylvania (just outside the many cells that held the weapons, ammunition, and prisoners. of Pittsburg) for memorial display. Opened in 1951, the museum chronicles the military history of Although freshly painted, the shield markings appear to be No. Fort Monroe from the construction of Fort Algernourne in 1609, 10885, the serial number of the Mark IV gun is 9724. Its gun through the last major command to be headquartered at Fort card indicates just three rounds were fired during its service time. Monroe, the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command. Also investigated at this time was a similar gun donation for It features the casemate cell where Jefferson Davis was briefly Confluence, Pennsylvania. After discussions with local authorities incarcerated in 1865 after the Civil War. The museum also and reference to a period newspaper article, it was determined showcases the story of the three enslaved Black men who in 1861 that Gun No. 9424 was scrapped during WW II. sought refuge at the fort and were welcomed by Gen. Benjamin This new find brings the total of surviving 4.72-inch Armstrong Butler, who deemed them “contraband of war.” The museum, guns to eight, with two confirmed as scrapped after donation. which was undergoing renovations before the spring pandemic The fate of the other approximately 20 donated guns of this series hit, also highlights stories of the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps. remains to be determined. The authority, a political subdivision of Virginia established after the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) in 2005, receives * * * * * roughly $6 million in state appropriations and has a $11 million Fort Monroe’s New operating budget for the current fiscal year. State agencies and Casemate Museum Director authorities such as Fort Monroe were advised to hold on any from the Hampton Daily Press. discretionary spending because of the pandemic. Bonnell’s salary

will be in the range of $81,000 – $91,000. HAMPTON — The Fort Monroe Authority has tapped an Army veteran to oversee the Casemate Museum, which houses a Lisa Vernon Sparks,757-247-4832, lvernonsparks@dailypress. trove of artifacts from the installation’s storied history. com. Lisa Vernon Sparks covers Hampton for the Daily Press. Françoise B. Bonnell, who has 22 years of military service under her belt, began Aug. 25 as the director of museums, education Dr. François Barnes Bonnell is the director of the United and interpretation, Fort Monroe officials said Monday. States Army Women’s Museum, and an expert in the history of She recently served as director and supervisory curator at the women’s contributions to the U.S. military. Since 2006, she has Army Women’s Museum in Fort Lee. Bonnell was a ROTC Dis- overseen the daily operations of the facility and research center, tinguished Military Graduate, served five years of active duty, 17 and directed the museum’s programming and education. She years as a reservist. She retired as a lieutenant colonel. is a peer reviewer for the American Alliance of Museums ac- Bonnell oversees the visitor experience at the museum and the creditation program, and a committee member for the American Fort Monroe Visitor and Education Center. The center has held Association of State and Local History. Dr. Bonnell has been some events earlier this year, but officials hopes to open to the an adjunct faculty member for various universities and colleges public later this month. since 1994, including the University of Guam and Central Texas Bonnell holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science College. She teaches U.S. history and courses in the history of from Scripps College, a Master of Arts in history from S.U.N.Y. military logistics. She retired from the U.S. Army in 2006 as a Stony Brook, and a doctorate in education with a specialization lieutenant colonel, having served for 22 years on active duty and in curriculum and teaching from North Central University. in the Army Reserve. Former museum director Robin Reed retired in March after Dr. Bonnell’s father, Professor Thomas Garden Barnes, was a serving since 2013. Fort Monroe officials announced it was founder of the Canadian Studies Program at Berkeley, and Dr. looking to fill the post in the past month. Fort Monroe had Bonnell has been a longtime and highly committed supporter a lot of turnover in 2019 with several people leaving — some of his legacy. Dr. Bonnell was raised in Berkeley, but for over due to retirements or jobs were absorbed into other roles. forty years has spent summers at the Barnes family’s ancestral In May 2019, museum historian Robert Kelly was fired two home in Nova Scotia, Canada. She has done extensive genea- months before the authority hosted a widespread commemora- logical research and continues to uncover the roots and intricate tion honoring the 400th anniversary arrival of first Africans to relationships that have tied her American and Canadian families English North America. A few people who came to the Fort together since the 1700s. She holds a B.A. in history and political Monroe Board of Trustees meeting that June spoke on his behalf science from Scripps College, The Claremont Colleges; an M.A. asking for him to be reinstated. in history from SUNY, Stony Brook; and a Ph.D. in education The Casemate historian position remains unfilled. Other from Northcentral University. positions that opened in the past year also not filled are the hu- man resources director and the museum registrar. The director of finance position was absorbed into another role, while the director of special events and executive assistant have since been filled, according to the Fort Monroe website. The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 9 * * * * * But the Army’s position has changed. The AH-64E Capability U.S. Army Flexes New Land-based, Anti- Version 6, which Boeing started developing in 2018, includes Ship Capabilities a modernized radar frequency interferometer. The receiver can Aviation Week Network, 10-20-20. identify maritime radars, allowing the AH-64E to target water- Steve Trimble and Lee Hudson craft at long range for the first time. Meanwhile, the Defense Department’s Strategic Capabilities Office started working in 2016 to integrate an existing seeker used for targeting ships into the Army Tactical Missile System (Atacms), which is currently the Army’s longest-range surface-to- surface missile at 300 km (162 nm). Beginning in fiscal 2023, the Lockheed Martin Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is scheduled to begin replacing the Atacms. The Increment 1 version will extend the range of the Army’s missiles to 500 km. A follow-on Incre- ment 2 version of PrSM is scheduled to enter service in fiscal 2025, featuring a new maritime seeker now in flight testing by the Army Research Laboratory. “As we begin to develop the PrSM [Increment 2] with the cross- domain capability against maritime and emitting [integrated air An Artist’s rendering of a Precision Strike Missile offers a defense system] targets, obviously we’ll be partnering with the preview of a new weapon entering service in fiscal 2023. Navy on that,” Rafferty says. An advanced seeker with a maritime targeting capability has entered flight testing for delivery two years later. Targeting ships from land-based artillery systems is not unique Credit: U.S. Army to the Army. The U.S. Marine Corps plans to introduce the Raytheon-Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile, firing the ground- Finding ever new and efficient ways to sink enemy ships is based anti-ship cruise missile from a remotely operated Joint usually assigned to the U.S. Navy and, to a lesser extent, the Air Light Tactical Vehicle. Force, but not anymore. Though still focused on its primary role of maneuvering against land forces and shooting down air and missile threats, the Army is quietly developing an arsenal of long-range maritime strike options. Project Convergence 2021 to include anti-ship test Precision Strike Missile to receive anti-ship role in 2025 As the Army carves out an offensive role in the Pentagon’s preparations for a mainly naval and air war with China, service officials now seek to develop a capacity for targeting and coor- dinating strikes on maritime targets with helicopter gunships in the near term and with long-range ballistic missiles by 2025. The Project Convergence 2020 event in September focused In 2018, the Army conducted the first experiment of a the Army on learning how to solve the command and control land-based, anti-ship missile during an international challenge for a slew of new land-attack capabilities scheduled to maritime exercise at the Pacific Missile Range in Hawaii. enter service by fiscal 2023. The follow-on event next year will The Raytheon-Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile struck a expand to include experiments with the Army’s command and decommissioned ship 63 mi. north of Kauai. Credit: U.S. control tasks in the unfamiliar maritime domain. Army “I think we have a long way to go in terms of partnering with To strike a moving target at ranges beyond the horizon, the the Navy for some of the maritime targeting [capabilities],” says Army needs more than an innovative new seeker. A targeting Brig. Gen. John Rafferty, the Army’s cross-functional team leader complex linking over-the-horizon sensors with the Atacms and for Long-Range Precision Fires. PrSM batteries is necessary. Moreover, the Army will need to “And I think that’ll be a natural evolution into Project Con- adapt command and control procedures to an unfamiliar mari- vergence 2021,” Rafferty says, speaking during the Association time domain. of the U.S. Army’s virtual annual meeting on Oct. 15. The annual Project Convergence events offer a laboratory for The Army operates a small, modest fleet of watercraft, includ- the Army to prepare the targeting and command and control ing logistics support vessels and Runnymede-class large landing complex before new weapons enter service. With the Long-Range craft, but service officials have been content to respond to attacks Hypersonic Weapon, a medium-range ballistic missile and PrSM on enemy ships at sea with the Navy’s surface combatants and also set to enter service in the next three years, the Army is seek- carrier-based fighter squadrons. Last year, the Air Force also re- ing to adapt quickly. vived a maritime strike role by activating the Lockheed Martin Last month, the Army used the first prototype of the Tactical AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile on the B-1B fleet. The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 10 Intelligence Targeting Access Node ground station. An artificial structure, data architecture, tools and analytics to support the intelligence (AI) program named Prometheus sifted through in- operational force. This includes linking hundreds of ships, sub- telligence information to identify targets. Another AI algorithm marines, unmanned systems and aircraft. called SHOT matched those targets to particular weapons with “Beyond recapitalizing our undersea nuclear deterrent, there the appropriate range and destructive power. An underlying is no higher developmental priority in the U.S. Navy,” Gilday fire-control network, called the Advanced Field Artillery Data wrote in an Oct. 1 memo that revealed the existence of Project System, provided SHOT with the location and magazine status Overmatch. Aviation Week obtained a copy of the document. of each friendly weapon system. A process that would otherwise “I am confident that closing this risk is dependent on enhancing take minutes or even hours dwindled—in an experimental set- Distributed Maritime Operations through a teamed manned- ting—to a few seconds. unmanned force that exploits artificial intelligence and machine The first Project Convergence event last month focused on the learning.” Army’s traditional mission against targets on land. The next event While Small is tasked with creating the “connective tissue,” will seek to replicate that streamlined targeting process against Gilday directs Vice Adm. James Kilby, deputy chief of naval ships possibly hundreds of miles away. These experiments are operations for warfighting requirements and capabilities (N9), intended to help the Army familiarize itself with new tools in the with accelerating development of unmanned capabilities and command and control loop, such as automated target-recognition long-range fires, Gilday wrote in a separate Oct. 1 memo outlin- systems and targeting assignments. The event also helps the Army ing the details of Project Overmatch. dramatically adapt, in a few years, institutional practices that had Kilby’s assessment must include a metric for the Navy to mea- endured for decades. sure progress and a strategy that appropriately funds each com- “In order for a bureaucracy to change, [it has] to understand ponent. His initial plan is also due to Gilday in early December. the need, and we have to create the use case in order for a bu- “Drive coherence to our plans with a long-term, sustainable reaucracy to change,” says Gen. Mike Murray, the head of the [and] affordable view that extends far beyond the [future years Army Futures Command. “I think in Project Convergence, what defense plan],” Gilday wrote. we’re able to demonstrate to the senior leaders in the army will further help drive that change.” * * * * * In a way, the Army is seeking to achieve in the maritime domain Fort Wool – Historic Guardian of Hamp- a networked sensor and command and control system that the ton Roads and Presidential Retreat Navy introduced to its fleet nearly two decades ago. To improve the fleet air-defense mission substantially, the Navy’s Cooperative Terry McGovern is the mid-Atlantic regional representative for Engagement Capability (CEC) generally develops a common, the Coast Defense Study Group (www. cdsg. org) and a founding shared database of tracks from the multiple airborne, surface and member of the Coalition for Historic Fort Wool. This article ran in subsurface sensors available to a carrier battle group. several local newspapers in Virginia. But the Navy also is building on the CEC standard. In 2016, a Lockheed F-35B demonstrated the ability to develop a target Virginians reading the local press celebrating recent develop- track of an over-the-horizon enemy warship. The track informa- ments at Fort Wool (Reprieve for local migratory birds, Opinion, tion was sent via the CEC to a launcher for a Raytheon SM-6. August 13) could be forgiven for asking, wait a minute, isn’t Fort Although primarily an air- and missile-defense interceptor, in Wool a historic site I used to be able to visit? The reader would this case the SM-6 demonstrated an anti-ship role. A follow- be right: Fort Wool was built following the War of 1812, as an on development SM-6 Block 1B is expected to optimize the island of granite and a companion fort to Fort Monroe, allowing weapon system as a long-range, anti-ship ballistic missile with the two forts’ guns together to control access to Hampton Roads. hypersonic speed. It also served as a summer residence for two presidents, Andrew More recently, the Navy has been quietly experimenting with Jackson and John Tyler, as well as an initial sanctuary for enslaved its own series of Project Convergence-like experiments. Known Americans (contrabands) fleeing the Confederacy for the protec- as the Navy Tactical Grid experiments, the Navy and Marine tion of the Union Army. Guns from the fort fired at the ironclad Corps organized a series of demonstrations in fiscal 2019, ac- CSS Virginia in the Battle of Hampton Roads in March 1862, cording to the latest budget justification documents. Building on and Abraham Lincoln observed the first Union attempt to invade the common operating picture provided by the CEC, the Navy Norfolk from the fort’s ramparts in May 1862. The fort is listed Tactical Grid is possibly experimenting with similar automation on the National Register of Historic Places, and until recently and machine-learning algorithms to streamline and amplify the was a tour stop for thousands of tourists a year, arriving on Miss targeting cycle dramatically. Hampton II, a tour boat originating in Downtown Hampton. A new initiative is now replacing the Navy Tactical Grid Virginians traveling over the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel experiments. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday can see Fort Wool, lying to the east, just offshore of the man-made tapped Rear Adm. Douglas Small, the head of Naval Informa- South Island, but may not realize the extent of the fort’s surviving tion Warfare Systems Command, to lead the effort known as historic resources. Construction started in 1819 and for the next Project Overmatch. 125 years Fort Wool evolved as military technology advanced, Small must provide a strategy, no later than early December, resulting in a rare fort that contains military architecture that that outlines how the Navy will develop the networks, infra- spans the entire era of America’s seacoast defenses. Notable are The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 11 Both the nesting birds and historic Fort Wool need to be safe- guarded. We cannot trade one important resource for another. We are confident Virginia can locate an alternative seasonal nesting habitat and urge it be done promptly. However, it is vital that the citizens of Virginia let their political leaders know that preserv- ing Fort Wool and restoring their access is important to them.

Historic Fort Wool before conversion to seabird nesting habitat.

Fort Wool’s 3rd System Casemates with Totten embrasures

Historic Fort Wool after conversion to seabird nesting habitat. remaining granite casemates from the 3rd System fort (1826), while most of the remaining fortifications date from the early 20th century, including WW2 Battery 229 (two 6-inch shielded guns) and its iconic steel tower. While fully recognizing the need for providing nesting sites for migratory seabirds and for completing the HRBT expansion, these outcomes need not and should not come at the expense of the permanent loss of a historic treasure. Virginia should promptly plan for a new site for the birds, including locating funding to prepare that site and for restoring Fort Wool to the condition it was in before it was converted to a nesting habitat. Another view of Fort Wool with its causeway to South That means removing the huge weight of sand now threatening Island. the island’s stability (a major issue for the US Army engineers building Fort Wool), building a permanent dock (critical for public access), and stabilizing the battery commander’s tower and reinforcing the granite casemates (both key preservation efforts, now on hold). These actions would allow safe visitation of the fort, and ensure it survives so that future generations may learn about its role in American history. The tourism appeal of Fort Wool is significant and can be built upon. In recent years, thousands of visitors disembarked from the Miss Hampton II to walk the grounds, subject to the supervision of safety-conscious tour guides. The appeal of the site, in the middle of Hampton Roads, near the site of the 1862 USS Monitor-CSS Virginia battle, and with dramatic views of the Chesapeake Bay and Fort Monroe, is significant. Restoring public tours to historic Fort Wool can take place during the eight months each year when Inside Fort Wool’s 3rd System casemates. migratory nesting is not occurring as soon as the Commonwealth (DCR) stabilizes the fort’s historic structures and repairs the dock after decades of deferred maintenance. The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 12 replaced, again on top of the battery, using a design by well- known architect Robert Stern. In 2011, the CDSG conference again visited the site. During both visits, we were able to tour the battery structure under the house and find the location of one Panama mount. The property, now approximately 10 acres, is for sale with an asking price of $25 million. There are no remains of the fire control structures. The second site, a completed sale, is the WW2 Coolidge Point fire control station in Manchester-by-the Sea, MA. This was loca- tion 134, part of the Harbor Defense of Boston. It is a five-story concrete tower with barracks structure, for many years the home of CDSG member Craig Lentz. The observation stations in the tower provided fire control information for Battery Long (2x16” BC) at Fort Duvall, Hull, MA, and Battery Gardner (2x12” BC) Placement of sand and barrier on the fort for the seasonal at Fort Ruckman, Nahant, MA. CDSG members were able nesting habitat. to visit the tower during the 2001 and 2016 conferences. The * * * * * property sold for approximately $1.25 million. Real Estate Activity at New England Coast Defense Sites Norm Scarpulla

Recently, two private New England coast defense sites came up for sale; one sold. Mishaum Point in Dartmouth, Massachusetts (MA) is a one mile long north-south peninsula projecting into Buzzards Bay. In WW2, it was location 51, part of the harbor defense of New Bedford, MA. As well as protecting the harbor of New Bedford, the harbor defense also controlled the south entrance of the Cape Cod Canal. The canal allows coastal shipping to avoid the longer, open-ocean route around Cape Cod. In April 1943, the Army acquired the tip of Mishaum Point, approximately 27 acres, and first installed a battery of 155mm GPF guns on Panama mounts. * * * * * These were replaced by Battery 210 (2x6” BC) and two fire CDSG Tour to Singapore’s Coastal control structures north (inland) of the battery. About 100 feet Defenses – February 9 to 12, 2020. behind the battery was a fire control structure stacked bottom to Day Three top: Harbor Entrance Control Post (HECP), battery commander station, signal station, and surveillance radar (originally planned Terry McGovern for an SCR-582, possibly replaced by an SCR-682A). About 500 feet behind the battery was a fire control radar (SCR-296A) for Day Three (Feb 12) began with breakfast and our minibus Battery 210. After WW2, the US Navy and then USAF contin- taking us to central Singapore. We had arranged for a guided tour ued to use the site until 1964, when it was sold to a private party. of the former British Headquarters Malaya Command Opera- Prior to 1991, when the CDSG conference visited the site, a tions Bunker, in an underground complex at the former Fort house was built on top of the battery. In 2007, the house was Canning. After this tour, Mr. Jeyathurai Ayadurai, the director of the Singapore History Consultants, had agreed to give us a lecture about the battle for Singapore that occurred in 1942. Fort Canning Hill was the British Army headquarters in Singapore, with a number of buildings built for this purpose in the 1920s. However, the lack of a headquarters combining all three services present in Singapore – the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force – was a major concern. To remedy this, a combined operations headquarters was proposed for Fort Canning in 1936. Nearly 30 feet beneath the hill, the Fort Canning Bunker, also known as the Headquarters Malaya Command Operations Bunker, was constructed starting in 1936 and completed by 1941. The bunker was constructed with one-meter thick reinforced concrete walls to withstand direct hits from bombs and shells. The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 13 The complex with about 30 rooms included a telephone exchange connected to all military and most civilian switchboards in Ma- laya, various signals and operations rooms, sleeping quarters, and latrines. The bunker also included a cipher room for coding and decoding messages. By the latter stages of the battle for Singa- pore, the Japanese were bombing the Central Area of Singapore, including Fort Canning Hill, at will. Fort Canning Hill was also within range of the Japanese artillery, forcing personnel into the bunker. There were around 500 officers and men in the bunker in the latter stages of the battle. The decision to surrender Singa- pore was made by Lieutenant-General Percival in a meeting on the morning of February 15, 1942. Held in the “Commander, Anti-Aircraft Defence Room” of the bunker, a number of senior officers were in attendance, including Generals Bennett, Heath, and Simmons. With diminishing water supplies, and no viable options for launching a counterattack, the decision was made to This room at the Battle Box tracked both British and seek terms with the Japanese. Japanese aircraft over Malyasia. The Fort Canning Bunker was later occupied by Japanese forces during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore and used for communications right up to the time of the Japanese surrender. After the war, Fort Canning Hill was again used by the British as the Singapore Base District Headquarters. The British handed over Fort Canning to the Singapore Armed Forces in 1968–69, and the buildings of Fort Canning Hill served for a time as the Singapore Command and Staff College. The Fort Canning Bunker, having remained empty and unused since the war, was sealed off in the late 1960s due to safety concerns and its exact location forgotten. It was brought back into the public eye when it was “rediscovered” by a journalist in 1988, who was following a number of leads claiming the existence of an underground bunker complex on Fort Canning Hill. The Fort Canning Bunker was developed into a museum depicting the final days of the Battle of Singapore. The museum, called the Battle Box, was formally th opened on February 15, 1997, on the 55 anniversary of the Work stations for telephone operators occupied this room surrender of Singapore. at the Battle Box. Upon our arrival at the Battle Box, we gathered in the gift shop of the museum to await our tour guide and to make our many purchases of all things relating to fortifications. We were escorted to the bunker and were told that no photography was allowed. Our guide led us around the complex which had been restored to its look and feel of 1942. The displays and recreations of events gave us a good understanding of the function of Battle Box and the stress its inhabitants must have been under during that time. We were joined by Jeya (director of the SHC, which runs the Battle Box) during our tour of the bunker. We gathered in the bunker’s theater room to hear Jeya’s lecture. His detailed presentation and the following question and answer period lasted for over an hour. Jeya demonstrated his years of research on the 1942 battle and its effect on Singapore. We greatly enjoyed his talk and we all left the bunker with a better understanding of the battle of Singapore. Our tour ended when we exited the bunker and the group quickly scattered to explore the remains of Fort Canning. We met up at the minibus to travel to the site of the Mr. Jeyathurai Ayadurai, director of the Singapore History Consultants, gave us an excellent lecture about the battle 1942 surrender – the Ford Automobile Factory. for Singapore. The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 14 We then headed to the site of Buona Vista Battery which had mounted two 15 in MK II guns on Spanish model carriages. The Buona Vista Battery straddled Ulu Pandan Road near its junction with Reformatory Road, which was renamed Clementi Road after the war. Due to the limited seaward angle of the guns, these guns saw no action during the Battle of Singapore and were partially destroyed by the retreating British in February 1942. The Japanese forces repaired Gun No. 2 for manual use, but it was never used by them. The entire area has been heavily commercially devel- oped since WW2. The site of Emplacement No. 1 is within the perimeter of the old Mowbray Police Training Camp which today is the headquarter of the ProCom Police unit. There have been reports of several concrete entryways on the hillside within the camp, which could be the battery plotting room. We requested One of several access points to the Battle Box at Fort permission to visit, but were turned down. Across Ulu Pandan Canning Park. Road is the Pine Grove housing complex. There have been reports of a grassy area showing outlines of an underground structure. This development is restricted to residents, so we did not visit. We had to satisfy ourselves with driving down Clementi and Ulu Pandan Roads and looking out our bus’s windows for any remains.

The Old Ford Motor Factory is now a museum to the war years in Singapore and the site of 1942 surrender.

This sally port is one of the several remains of Fort Canning.

Our minibus took from Fort Canning to the former Ford Factory (also Old Ford Motor Factory and Old Ford Factory depending on sources) which is along Upper Bukit Timah Road at Bukit Timah in Singapore. It is where British forces under The closest we were able to get to the site of Buona Vista Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival surrendered to Japanese forces Battery (15 in gun - Emplacement No. 1). under Lieutenant-General Yamashita Tomoyuki on February 15, 1942, after the Battle of Singapore. The Old Ford Motor Factory Continuing on from the Bunoa Vista Battery site, we returned was gazetted a National Monument in 2006, and converted into to the Keppel Harbour area to visit the Labrador Nature Reserve an exhibition gallery and archive named Memories at Old Ford which used to be Fort Pasir Panjang, which protected the western Factory. We surprised the staff of the museum as they did not entrance to the harbor in conjunction with Fort Siloso. Fort Pas- expect 20 visitors all at the same time given the start of virus seir Panjang was constructed during a period of great uncertainty restrictions and testing. After touring the museum for an hour, when Russia was considered a threat to the British Empire. The our minibus took us to an area of restaurants so the group could fort received two batteries, - Two 9.2 in Mark IV BL guns and have lunch. The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 15 two 7 in RML guns. The 7 in RML were installed between until February 13, when the guns were spiked and magazine, 1886 to 1889, while the 9.2 in guns were mounted between searchlights, and engine room had demolition charges set off. 1890 to 1891. The fort also supported a controlled submarine The Japanese repaired one 6 in gun to operational status. After minefield located off the harbor’s entrance. As the 7 in RML the war the battery was not restored and the repaired 6 in gun became obsolete, they were replaced by two Mark II 6 in QF was transferred for use at Fort Siloso’s 6 in battery. The area was Guns. By September 1900, the two 6 in QF emplacements had undeveloped reserve until 2000, when the Labrador Nature Re- been completed and the guns located in one of the 7 in RML serve was created. Much clearing up and safety work was required emplacements. Around the same time, two 6-pounder QF were before the casemates and magazines were opened to the public installed, reusing the other 7 in RML emplacement. Fort Passeir in 2005. Unfortunately, the casemates are currently closed to the Panjang was not a long-lived fort, being disarmed of its heavy public due to safety concerns. armament by 1912, and its machine guns by April 1914. The Our minibus left us near the fort’s casemate so we began our fort never saw active service during this period. walking tour with the exterior of the casemates. We had requested The history of Fort Passeir Panjang is sometimes confused permission from the National Parks Board to visit the interior with the much later Labrador Battery. In the British Govern- of the casemate and magazine, but this was denied due to safety ment’s Defence Review of 1935, it was agreed that a new 6 in concerns. We visited the No. 1 Emplacement of the 9.2 in guns, battery would be constructed on the site of the disused Fort Pasir but all we could locate were the emplacements for the Labrador Panjang. This new battery, later known as the Labrador Battery, Battery, which have been converted to a sitting area for park would complement the nearby 6 in QF battery at Fort Siloso, visitors. We followed the path to the No. 2 9.2 in Emplacement which was to be upgraded to a BL battery. The batteries, working which survives, along with its underground magazines (the en- together, would provide an effective close defense of the western trance gate was locked). An open position finding cell remains entrance to Keppel Harbour. In order to clear up confusion, next to the emplacement. Further down we spent time looking at Labrador Battery was constructed circa 1939 above the old 9.2 the 6 in QF emplacement, which displays an original 6 in barrel in casemates. It occupied the site of the No. 1 9.2 in gun of the on a replica central pivot mount. We investigated which part Passeir Panjang Battery. This 9.2 in emplacement was destroyed of the emplacement was part of the 7 in RML work and which to enable the construction of two 6 in Mark VII BL on Mark II part was added for the 6 in QF battery. Continuing downhill we CPM emplacements with all-around fire for Labrador Battery. reached 6-pounder emplacement which include part of the older Labrador Battery also made use of the casemates and a modified 7 in RML structure. When we reached the remains of the fort’s No. 1 Magazine. Around 1941, both gun emplacements were brick sally port, we completed our tour of Fort Passeir Panjang. modified to have overhead concrete splinter cover installed, restricting their field of fire. During the Battle for Singapore, Labrador Battery fired several times in February on the approaching Japanese forces,

Plan for the Labrador Nature Reserve which encompasses Fort Passeir Panjang, Labrador Battery, and Batu Berlayar AMTB. The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 16

The 6-pounder QF emplacement using the older 7 in RML The casemates for the 9.2 in battery at Fort Passeir Panjang. structure at Fort Passeir Panjang. Once open to the public, they have now been closed due to safety concerns. Our next objective was the defenses of Batu Berlayar, the point on the northern side of the western entrance to Keppel Harbour. Only a 100 yards from the former entrance to Fort Passeir Panjang, this sea cliff point was first used for a 6-pounder QF emplacement to cover the Western Controlled Minefield that blocked the entrance to Keppel Harbour. The first emplacement for this weapon was completed in 1892. By 1898, an additional 6-pounder QF gun had been added, but by 1905 there was no record of any guns at the point. It was not until 1937 that the point again received coast artillery, when a two-gun AMTB em- placement was constructed to mount twin 6-pounders, but due to the lack of these modern weapons, two 12-pounder QF guns Emplacement No. 2 for the 9.2 in battery at Fort Passeir completed this battery in 1941. Also, three seacoast searchlight Panjang. emplacements were built at the point at the same time. The bat- tery saw no action during the Battle for Singapore in 1942. On February 13, 1942, the guns were spiked and the magazines set on fire. There is no record of the Japanese using this defensive position. After the war ended, the British rearmed the battery with one twin 6-pounder, which remained in service until 1956 when the British coast artillery was disbanded. The AMTB is currently abandoned, along with the harbor control tower that was built after WW2. We located stairs and a path to emplacements which the group quickly scattered to explore. We regrouped at a local bus shelter to await our minibus, discussing what our next step would be as we had visited all the sites on our schedule. Not willing to end our tour, we decided The entrance to the magazines for the 9.2 in Emplacement to look for surviving WW2 pillboxes. Our local team directed No. 2 at Fort Passeir Panjang. our bus driver to one of the more well-known pillboxes. One of the very few remaining in Singapore is the preserved one at the junction of Pasir Panjang and Science Park Roads. This pillbox was in the area defended by C Company, 1st Battalion, the Malay Regiment, when the Japanese swept through on February 13, 1942, and despite of lack of evidence on the pillbox, it may have been used to put down fire on the advancing Japanese. The design is similar to many built in Singapore. Pillbox designs were not rigid, and modifications could be made to suit local conditions. With our bus charter running out of time, we returned to our hotel and the tour was completed. After several rounds of good byes, the tour group each headed their own ways.

The 6 in QF battery at Fort Passeir Panjang. In 2002, an original 6 in barrel was mated with a replica central pivot mounting. The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 17

A view from the harbor control tower of the Batu Berlayar The Batu Berlayar AMTB emplacement No 1. AMTB Emplacement No. 1.

The harbor entrance command post at Batu Berlayar.

The director tower for Batu Berlayar AMTB Emplacement No. 2. Half buried pillbox at Batu Berlayar.

The passageway between the two emplacements at the One of the very few remaining pillboxes in Singapore is Batu Berlayar AMTB. this one at the junction of Pasir Panjang and Science Park Roads. The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 18 Attending the Singapore tour were Matthew Adams, Gerhard an Army coal-burning stove soldiers would have used to keep Borchert, Alan Fyson, Bernd Ibisch, Mariusz Jachimowicz, Tom warm in the winter and signs reminding soldiers not to smoke in Kavanagh (Tom had to drop out of the tour), Terry McGovern, the magazines still remain. Details such as these will help historic Quentin Schillare, John Scholes, Rolf Thoendel, Tim Wellburn, researchers in the future. and Ian Wolfe. Below is a group photo with our local support One other significant feature of Fort Terry is its cantonment team in front of the casemates at Mount Serapong. area, the area where the soldiers lived when they were not on alert. Many of these historic structures still remain, including the chapel, hospital, guardhouse, and two large barracks buildings. These structures are a significant resource that could support artists-in-residence, museums, classrooms and accommodations for researchers, students, and other visitors. I have been involved in historic preservation and fortification research for two decades. I have visited sites across the United States, Europe and the Pacific. In my experience, Fort Terry is unique in its level of preservation due to its lack of public access. This is a unique resource that needs to be protected. Please take a moment to contact U.S. Senators Blumenthal and Murphy to encourage them to push to stop the sale of this beautiful island. Chris Zeeman is a resident of North Stonington. * * * * * Don’t lose Plum Island’s rich defense * * * * * history CDSG Logo Hats, Shirts & Patches Chris Zeeman The CDSG is pleased to offer custom-made hats, T-shirts and patches to our membership. Wearing these hats, T-shirts and Published August 23. 2020 12:01AM | Updated August 23. patches are a great way to make others aware of the CDSG and 2020 9:52PM in The Day,New London, CT its goals. It is also an excellent way to promote new member- https://www.theday.com/op-edguest-opinions/20200823/ ships in the CDSG. dont-lose-plum-islands-rich-defense-history?fbclid=IwAR3N The CDSG patches have been available for several years. De- mxrQXzYYTowRFF95qBgvKpncrgp8LewRqg1lw9tuZcwqk- signed especially for the CDSG, these quality patches combine DlVQohhgkQ the Coast Artillery Corps and the Corps of Engineers symbols to reflect their involvement in U.S. coastal defenses. This logo Hopefully, many of you will have heard of the recent release of is now on hats and a set of T-shirts which are great for showing the report created by the Preserve Plum Island Coalition. Plum the CDSG “flag.” Island lies about eight miles south of the Connecticut shoreline To order your hat, T-shirt or patch, please complete the order in Long Island Sound. The 840-acre island is the site of Plum form below and send it along with your check (made out to Island Animal Disease Center, run by the federal government, and CDSG, Inc.) to Terry McGovern at 1700 Oak Lane, McLean, is off-limits to the public. However, the government has plans to VA 22101-3326 USA (e-mail: [email protected]). move its lab to Kansas by 2023 and sell the island. CDSG hats, T-shirts and patches ordering information The “Envision Plum Island” report goes into great detail regard- Black T-sirt with white ink: ing the great biological diversity and rich habitats Plum Island Size & # ___L ___XL ___2XL ___3XL provides. I have been to the island a handful of times, and its Red T-Shirt with white ink: natural beauty and wildlife are readily apparent. There is another Size & # ___L ___XL ___2XL ___3XL side to Plum Island, however, that few people know about. Kacki T-Shirt with black ink: From 1899 until about 1946, Plum Island was home to Fort Size & # ___L ___XL ___2XL ___3XL Terry, a U.S. Army Coast Artillery base. This fort, along with Navy T-shirt with yellow ink: forts on Great Gull Island and Fishers Island, was built to prevent Size & # ___L ___XL ___2XL ___3XL enemy battleships from raiding the Connecticut coastline and Total Number: ____ times $_____ = Total $_____ using Long Island Sound as a back-door route to New York City. (domestic $18/overseas $26 each) The fort was equipped with a variety of large guns, and at one CDSG Cloth Patch: _____ times $_____ = Total $_____ point was the most heavily armed location on the East Coast. (domestic $4/overseas $6) each The big guns are long gone, but many other artifacts remain. CDSG Color Decal: _____ times $_____ = Total $_____ Since the Army left the island, it has been in the hands of (domestic $2/overseas $3) each various government agencies and public access has been very Hats: ______times $ _____ = Total $ _____ limited. While the gun batteries and other structures have (domestic $20/overseas $25) each been left to decay, the lack of public access has protected these Be sure to include your name and shipping address. remains. There are many details remaining here that are missing You can also order online at cdsg.org/shopping/ or vandalized at similar forts with public access. Details such as The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 19 * * * Support the CDSG.ORG Website

The CDSG supports its web site ONLY through donations. If you download PDF files from the website, please help the CDSG continue to maintain it by donating a shareware fee. The suggested fees will be noted next to each PDF document. We * * * * * suggest a minimum donation of $5.00. Thank you for supporting Company of Military Historians the CDSG web site! This organization is dedicated to the study and preservation of military history in the Americas. Its objectives are to promote and advance the research of military history and traditions through publications, exhibits, and meetings. Members include anyone interested in military history, such as historians, collectors, writers, artists, and those involved in living history. The company publishes the quarterly journal, Military Collectors and Historian, and an ongoing series of color plates— “Military Uniforms in America.” Memberships start at $60 For membership information contact: Company of Military Historians P.O. Box 910, Rutland, MA 01543-0910 Phone:508-845-9229 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.military-historians.org.

* * * * * * * * * * The Artilleryman Magazine Warship International Steam Back Into History… The Artilleryman is the only magazine exclusively for artillery shooters and collectors. History, unit profiles, events, places to Go to sea with the ships of the world’s navies – the USN’s Es- visit, book reviews, advertising. It is published quarterly; subscrip- sex & Independence-class carriers, the Arizona, the Japanese I-400 tions are $34.95 a year. Free sample copies are available. class subs, HMS Vanguard, Czarist Russia’s battleships, French cruisers of the 1922 Program. These are subjects of some of the TheArtilleryman Magazine articles that have appeared in recent issues of Warship International. 96 Craig Street, Suite 112-333 These issues are still in print and can be obtained at special rates East Ellijay, GA 30540 for new members. Call (706) 940-2673 email: [email protected] What ever happened to USS Lexington’s (CV-2) 8” guns? http://www.ArtillerymanMagazine.com How much do you know about the cannon of “Old Ironsides”? Want to learn more about early naval radio experiments?

These questions and many more are answered in each issue of theworld’s most unique naval journal – WARSHIP INTERNA- Help Preserve Our Miliary Heritage TIONAL.

A ONE VOLUME SUBSCRIPTION of 4 QUARTERLY IS- SUES IS ONLY- U.S.A. $42.00, CANADA $45.00, OUTSIDE Council on America's NORTH AMERICA $55.00, we now feature Pay-Pal. Military Past A SAMPLE COPY $3.00, this includes postage & handling. WARSHIP INTERNATIONAL See our web site for information on publications and activities Dept. CD P.O. Box 48 www.campjamp.org Holden, MA 01520-0048 See us on the World Wide Web: http://www.warship.org The CDSG Newsletter - Fall 2020 Page 20 The Coast Defense Study Group The Coast Defense Study Group Press cdsg.org This is an all-volunteer operation provided as a service to our members The CDSG Newsletter is published quarterly by the Coast Defense and to other interested historians. Credit card orders are accepted on Study Group, Inc. along with the Coast Defense Journal. Submissions for the cdsg.org website. For mail orders please send check or money order the newsletter should be sent to the editor or publisher below. in U.S currency. Please note clearly in your order which items you are Submission deadlines are the first of the month in February, May, ordering. All prices include domestic / international shipping costs (US August, and November of each calender year. All rights are reserved. Postal Service). Allow at least 8-10 weeks for delivery. Comments on business matters should be addressed directly to the Chairman of the Board of Directors. CDSG 1985-2019 Publications. Text-seachable PDF files of the en- tire set of CDSG News/Journal/Newsletters $55 domestic and foreign on a CDSG Publications data DVD/USB drive, or by download. Once purchased, yearly download PO Box 6124, Peoria, IL 61601 updates can be obtained from Mark Berhow at [email protected]. [email protected] CDSG Documents USB $50 domestic and foreign mail. These PDFs The CDSG is a non-profit corporation formed to promote the study cover a range of historical documents related to seacoast defenses, most are of coast defenses and fortifications, their history, architecture, technol- copied from the National Archives. Included are PDFs of annual reports ogy, and strategic and tactical employment. The purposes of the group of the chief of coast artillery and chief of engineers; various board pro- include educational research and documentation, preservation of historic ceedings and reports; army directories; text books; tables of organization sites, site interpretation, and assistance to other organizations interested and equipment; WWII command histories; drill, field, training manuals in the preservation and interpretation of coast defense sites. Membership and regulations; ordnance department documents; ordnance tables and in the CDSG is open to any person interested in the study of the coast compilations; and ordnance gun and carriage cards. defenses and fortifications of the United States. Harbor Defense Documents USB Annual dues for 2020 are $45 domestic printed, $55 for Canada $250 domestic and foreign mail. printed, and $90 for international printed. Join/renew online at cdsg.org. These PDF documents form the basis of the conference and special tour Checks payable to: The Coast Defense Study Group, Inc. (CDSG) handouts that have been held at harbor defense locations around the Send to: Quentin Schillare, Membership Chairman U.S. The collection includes RCBs/RCWs; maps; annexes to defense 24624 W. 96th Street, Lenexa, KS 66227-7285 projects; CD engineer notebooks; quartermaster building records; and [email protected] aerial photos taken by the signal corps 1920-40, and other items.These collections are available as PDFs on a USB drive, the size of the collec- 2020-2021 Board of Directors of the CDSG tion varies from harbor to harbor. Please visit cdsg.org for more details. Richard Wong (Chair) Robert Grimm CSDG Press Books ($ domestic / $ international) Steve Waldron Notes on Seacoast Fortification Construction, by Col. Eben E. Winslow (GPO, CDSG Publications 1920), hard cover reprint, with 29 plates included in a separate paperback. Bolling W. Smith, Journal Editor Both items: $35 / $45 (currently sold out, but please inquire) Mark Berhow, Publisher CDSG Press & ePress Seacoast Artillery Weapons (Army Technical Manual 4-210, 13 Oct. 1944), Terry McGovern, Chair paper back reprint. $25 / $35 CDSG Fund Terry McGovern, Quentin Schillare, & Mark Berhow, Trustees The Service of Coast Artillery, by F. Hines and F.W. Ward (1910), hardcover reprint $40 / $60 Membership Committee Quentin Schillare, Chair Permanent Fortifications and Sea-Coast Defenses, Congressional Report No. 62, Finance Committee U.S. House of Rep. (1862), hardcover reprint $30 / $45 Terry McGovern,Treasurer & Secretary Preservation & Interpretation Committee American Seacoast Matériel, Ordnance Dept. Doc. #2042, (1922), Gordon Bliss, Chair Hardcover reprint $45 / $65 Representative & Outreach Committee Norm Scarpulla, Chair The Endicott and Taft Reports, reprint of original reports of 1886, 1905, 1915, hardcover, with plates included in a separate paperback $45/ $95 Projects & Website Committee Mark Berhow, Chris Zeeman Artillerists and Engineers, the Beginnings of American Seacoast Fortications, Audit Committee 1794-1815, by Arthur P. Wade, paperback, (2010) $25/ $40 Ned Libby, Chair Nominations Committee American Seacoast Defenses: A Reference Guide, Third Edition Alex Hall, Chair edited by Mark Berhow (2015), hardcover $45 / $95

Upcoming Conference and Tour Committees Checks payable to: CDSG Press 2021 Charleston/Savannah Conference­—Gary Alexander, Chair Send orders: CDSG Press 2021 CDSG Special Tour to Sweden, Terry McGovern, Chair C/O Terry McGovern, 2022 New Orleans Conference—Quentin Schillare, Chair 1700 Oak Lane, McLean, VA 22101-3326 2023 Location to be Determined email: [email protected] Order online at cdsg.org